Field Trip: Hidden Springs Preserve Plant Survey #10, Friday, April 12, 2024

image of a sign

— by Kathy Galloway

  • What:   Hidden Springs Preserve Field Trip, Plant Survey 10 of 12
  • When:  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Friday, April 12, 2024
    • Please plan on arriving by 9:15 AM. There is a padlock on the front gate and it will be locked shortly after 9:15 AM.
  • Where:  978 CR 224, Florence, TX.
  • Our field trip is free and open to the public…
    • But the preserve is not open to the general public.  See important details later in this post.

We’re continuing our plant survey work with plant survey #10.

Be prepared for extensive walking on uneven, open terrain. Wear sturdy walking shoes, a hat, and sunscreen, and bring water, field guides, and something to take notes on and with. Members at all plant knowledge levels can help on survey field trips. Beginners are welcome.

Please plan on arriving by 9:15 AM – there is a padlock on the front gate, and it will be locked shortly after 9:15 AM

Reservations are not required. Please feel free to contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here) beforehand if you have any questions.

Directions:

  • Take IH-35 north to Exit 266 (Florence/Killeen/195).
  • Turn left and follow SH 195 toward Florence.
  • Go through Florence, take the TX 138 exit (you will be near the City of Florence’s water tower with the bison on it), and then turn left onto TX 138.
  • After a little over two miles, turn right onto CR 224.
  • After about half a mile, at the fork in the road, bear to the left and stay on CR 224. Note that a car GPS system may indicate that you should bear to the right – this is incorrect.
  • After another half a mile, look for a green metal gate on your right (north side of street). There is a large wooden sign “Hidden Springs” sign between two flagpoles behind the fence. The address is 978 County Road 224, Florence, TX, but there is no number on the gate. (The gate is across the street from 981 CR 224.)
  • When you arrive, directions will be given as to where to park.

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See photos from our earlier survey trips to Hidden Springs Preserve.

Trip Report: Spring Tree Walk, March 17

— by Cindy Chrisler

Gary Bowers led five hearty NPSOT members on today’s field trip at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock.  This was the second field trip in a series of four to observe the same trees in all seasons of the year. 

This trip showed many trees and shrubs in bloom, including Mexican Buckeye, Possumhaw, Rusty Blackhaw, and Green Hawthorn.  Other flowers were also spotted, such as Large Buttercup, Texas Baby Blue-eyes, and the ubiquitous Texas Bluebonnet. Many other trees, shrubs, and forbs are poised to bloom in the next few weeks for a spectacular show. 

The next field trip in this series is scheduled for June 29. 


See photos from this field trip and others in our album=>


Field Trip: March 17, 2024, Tree Walk at Old Settlers Park

— by Gary Bowers

What: Tree Walk in the Park, led by Gary Bowers
Where: Old Settlers Park, 3017–3099 Whitlow Way, Round Rock
When: 10:00am-Noon on Sunday, March 17, 2024
Our field trip is free and open to the public.

Join us for the 2nd Tree Walk of 2024 at Old Settlers Park on Sunday, March 17, 2024. We will continue learning about identification of trees during dormancy but, with some luck…

🍀

… and good weather, we will hopefully start seeing some trees break dormancy and bud out.

View directions on: Apple Maps or Google Maps

We’ll meet in the parking area at the Virgil Rabb Pavilion off of Whitlow Way, in Old Settlers Park. From there we will walk around the pavilion to the nature trail. The walk is around 2 miles and will take around 2 hours to complete with relatively brisk walks between talking points.

For anyone interested, a few of the NPSOT members will continue on to Cork & Barrel after the walk to celebrate St. Patricks Day (and native plants).

map
Meeting point and parking. Rabb Pavilion, Old Settlers Park, Round Rock, TX.